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Sound of Petula: 1973 Episode Guide
SHOW
ONE: The Sound of Petula: The Girls Who Make Music
The first episode of The Sound of Petula launched the 1973 series with a vibrant celebration of contemporary female songwriters. Telerecorded on 21 February
1973 at BBC Television Theatre, the programme brings together Petula, the Norman Maen Dancers, the Mike Sammes Singers, and a
33-piece orchestra under Peter Knight for a tightly-paced
29-minute showcase. The set list leans heavily into Carole King, Laura Nyro, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, and Buffy
Sainte-Marie, giving Petula a rich canvas of modern material to reinterpret with her trademark clarity and warmth. The episode also features specially shot 16mm film inserts, adding visual texture to the musical sequences.
BROADCAST
DETAILS:
PRODUCTION:
-
Telerecorded:
Wednesday 21 February 1973
-
Venue:
BBC Television
Theatre, Shepherd's Bush Green, London
-
Duration:
29'17"
-
Producer:
Yvonne Littlewood
-
Programme
Associate: Eric Merriman
-
Musicians: Peter Knight and the Orchestra
(33)
-
Costume Designer:
Rupert Jarvis
-
Choreography:
Norman Maen
-
Design:
Don Taylor
-
Lighting:
Ken MacGregor
-
Sound:
Len Shorey
TAKING
PART:
-
Petula
Clark
-
Norman Maen Dancers:
Rosemary Clark
Maureen Wilsher
Maureen Bright
Alison Minto
Lamona Snow
Wendy Gotelee
-
Orchestra
(33) - Conducted by Peter Knight
-
The
Mike Sammes Singers (6)
FILM
SEQUENCES:
MUSIC
PERFORMED (as broadcast):
-
The Mike Sammes
Singers & Orchestra
The Sound of Petula 00'20"
Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark with Orchestra
Music 01'44"
Carole King arr. Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark with Dancers, Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
Eli's Coming 01'17"
Laura Nyro arr. Peter Knight
Wedding Bell Blues 01'01"
Laura Nyro arr. Peter Knight
Time and Love 02'20"
Laura Nyro arr. Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark with Orchestra
Both Sides Now 03'13"
Joni Mitchell arr. Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark with Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
Big Yellow Taxi 02'00"
Joni Mitchell arr. John Fiddy
Open the Door 00'32"
Judy Collins arr. Fiddy
A Groovy Kind of Love 00'42"
Wine, Bayer arr. Fiddy
You're So Vain 01'02"
Carly Simon arr. Fiddy
What Would I Be 01'33"
Jackie Trent arr. Fiddy
Until It's Time for You to Go 03'10"
Buffy Sainte-Marie arr. Fiddy
-
Mike Sammes Singers with Dancers & Orchestra
I Feel the Earth Move 01'35"
Carole King arr. Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark with Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
Beautiful 01'10"
Carole King arr. Mardin / McCarthy
-
Petula Clark with Orchestra
Tapestry 02'42"
Carole King arr. Peter Knight
-
You've Got a Friend 04'30"
Carole King arr. Frank Owens
Critical Reception:
Contemporary reaction to the opening edition of
The Sound of Petula was warm and appreciative. In a post-broadcast interview, the
Daily Express highlighted Petula's renewed creative energy as she prepared for her Royal Festival Hall concert and her new BBC series, noting that although she sometimes felt she had
"had enough," she continues because she still has "something to offer." The
Leicester Daily Mercury praised the programme's concept and execution, remarking that Petula
"did her bit for Women's Lib" by spotlighting modern female songwriters, and calling the result
"an extremely pleasant, soothing half-hour." The reviewer added that Petula,
"a 'veteran' in terms of years served in the business," only seemed to get
"better year by year," expressing enthusiasm for the rest of the series.
Archive Holdings:
In terms of survival, only two sequences from this edition is known to
exist (A Groovy Kind of Love and You're So Vain), preserved incidentally within another BBC programme,
Val Meets the VIPs. No other visual material from this episode is held by the BBC. The Fan Archive Collection maintains a
reference copy of the Val Meets the VIPs edition containing the surviving sequences (shelf mark
[2]121).
In addition, ambient off-air audio recordings made privately at the time of the original broadcast survive among collectors (shelf mark
[1]098). In the absence of the full programme, these recordings provide an important record of the transmitted soundtrack.
All recordings remain under copyright, and we are unable to provide access or supply copies.
Survival Status:
This episode does not survive in full. Only two sequences
(A Groovy Kind of Love and You're So Vain) is known to exist, preserved solely through the BBC's retention of
Val Meets the VIPs. The BBC Archives are not believed to hold any other material from this edition.
The Fan Archive Collection maintains a documented reference copy of the surviving
extracts, along with an ambient off-air audio recording made privately at the time of transmission, which together preserve the available visual and audio record of the broadcast.
Additional
resource material:
The Fan
Archive Collection holds eight professionally shot production
stills from this episode. It also preserves the Radio
Times issue dated 10 March 1973, featuring Petula as the
cover star and includes the three-page article The Family Pet (pp.
5658).
SHOW
TWO: The Sound of Petula: The Songs of The Beatles
For the second edition of
The Sound of Petula, Petula devotes the entire programme to the music of Lennon and McCartney, reworking some of the Beatles' most iconic songs with full orchestral arrangements by Peter Knight, Tony Hatch, Dave Lindup and Frank Owens. The show blends studio performances with specially shot film inserts and vintage Beatlemania footage, creating a lively, affectionate tribute to the group's catalogue. Highlights include early hits such as
"She Loves You" and "All My Loving" to later material including "Eleanor Rigby,"
"The Long and Winding Road," and "Hey Jude," with contributions from Frank Owens, the Mike Sammes Singers and the New Temperance Seven.
BROADCAST
DETAILS:
PRODUCTION:
-
Telerecorded:
Wednesday 14 February 1973
-
Venue:
BBC Television
Theatre, Shepherd's Bush Green, London
-
Duration:
30'27"
-
Producer:
Yvonne Littlewood
-
Programme
Associate: Eric Merriman
TAKING
PART:
FILM
SEQUENCES:
MUSIC
PERFORMED (as broadcast):
-
Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
Opening Signature Tune: The Sound of Petula 00'15"
Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark, Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
With a Little Help from My Friends 01'00"
Lennon, McCartney arr. Peter Knight
-
All My Loving
01'30"
Lennon, McCartney arr. Peter Knight
-
She Loves You 01'12"
Lennon, McCartney arr. Peter Knight
-
Can't Buy Me Love 01'32"
Lennon, McCartney arr. Peter Knight
-
I Want to Hold Your Hand 02'52"
Lennon, McCartney arr. Tony Hatch
-
Petula Clark with Orchestra
Help! 02'47"
Lennon, McCartney arr. Dave Lindup
-
Petula Clark with Orchestra
Eleanor Rigby 03'16"
Lennon, McCartney arr. Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark, Frank Owens, Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
And I Love Her 03'11"
Lennon, McCartney arr. Frank Owens
-
Petula Clark, Frank Owens, Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
Hey Jude 02'06"
Lennon, McCartney arr. Frank Owens
-
Petula Clark, Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
The Long and Winding Road 03'32"
Lennon, McCartney arr. Frank Owens
-
Petula Clark with Orchestra
Yesterday 01'49"
Lennon, McCartney arr. Peter Knight
-
Music on Film
Petula Clark & The New Temperance Seven
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 02'00"
Lennon, McCartney arr. Willie Hasty
Critical Reception:
Regional press responded favourably to this Beatles-themed edition. The
Lincolnshire Echo praised Petula's assurance and vocal maturity, noting that she
"has matured into a great entertainer and immensely talented singer," with the rare ability to make
"ordinary songs extraordinary." The reviewer added that she could
"scarcely have sung better" than in this broadcast. The
Hull Daily Mail also highlighted the strength of her performance, describing the programme as
"superb stuff" and commending her handling of the Lennon-McCartney material.
Archive Holdings:
Only one sequence from this edition is known to exist (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band). No other visual material from this episode is held by the BBC. The Fan Archive Collection maintains a reference copy of this surviving sequence (shelf marks
[1]341 and [1]355).
Ambient off-air audio recordings made privately at the time of the original broadcast also survive among collectors (shelf mark
[1]098). In the absence of the full programme, these recordings provide an important record of the transmitted soundtrack.
All recordings remain under copyright, and we are unable to provide access or supply copies.
Survival Status:
This episode does not survive in full. Only a single sequence:
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is known to exist. The BBC Archives are not believed to hold any other material from this edition.
The Fan Archive Collection maintains a documented reference copy of the surviving extract, together with an ambient
off-air audio recording made at the time of transmission, which collectively preserve the available visual and audio record of the broadcast.
The BBC later included Petula's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band sequence in the BBC Four music compilation Sings The Beatles, a programme exploring classic and unusual Beatles covers from the BBC archives. First shown in 2009, it
also featured performances by a range of artists including Shirley Bassey, Oasis and Su Pollard.
Additional resource material:
The Fan Archive Collection holds three professionally shot
production stills from this episode.
SHOW
THREE: The Sound of Petula: ...and Her French Connections
For this third edition, Petula turns to her long-standing musical ties with France, presenting a programme built around French composers, French-language repertoire, and artists with whom she shared close professional connections. Joined by guest star Sacha Distel, she performs a mixture of film themes, chanson classics and contemporary material, supported by Peter
Knight's orchestral arrangements and contributions from the Mike Sammes Singers. The set includes
"Live for Life," "Un Homme et Une Femme," "Madame Poupιe," and a sequence of duets with Distel, giving the programme a distinctly Franco-British
flavour.
BROADCAST
DETAILS:
PRODUCTION:
-
Telerecorded:
Wednesday 7 March 1973
-
Venue:
BBC Television
Theatre, Shepherd's Bush Green, London
-
Duration:
31'02"
-
Producer:
Yvonne Littlewood
-
Programme
Associate: Eric Merriman
TAKING
PART:
MUSIC
PERFORMED:
-
The
Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
Opening Signature Tune The Sound of Petula 00'15"
Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark,
The Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
Live for Life 04'42"
Lai, Gimbel arr. Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark & Orchestra
Love Story 02'13"
Sigman, Lai arr. Peter Knight
-
The
Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
Un Homme et Une Femme 01'45"
Lai, Barouh arr. Fiddy
-
Sacha Distel & Orchestra
Watch What Happens 01'56"
Gimbel, Legrand arr. Fiddy
-
Petula Clark & Orchestra
Imagine 02'07"
Lai, Cahn arr. Ernie Freeman
-
Petula Clark, Sacha Distel & Orchestra
What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? - 02'15"
A&M Bergman, Legrand arr. Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark & Orchestra
Madame Poupιe 02'00"
Colombier, Clark arr. Colombier
-
Petula Clark, Sacha Distel & Orchestra
Why Does My Heart Go Boom 01'56"
Campbell, Hunter, Trenet
-
Petula Clark, Sacha Distel & Orchestra
Beyond the Sea 01'23"
Trenet, Mair
-
Petula Clark, Sacha Distel & Orchestra
I Wish You Love 01'36"
Beach, Trenet arr. Fiddy
-
Petula Clark,
Sacha Distel & Orchestra
Sweet Gingerbread Man 02'57"
Bergman, Legrand - arr. Peter Knight
-
Sacha Distel & Orchestra
The Good Life 03'01"
Reardon, Distel
-
Petula Clark & Orchestra
Comme Je T'Aime 02'11"
Tezι, Distel
-
Petula Clark,
The Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
Live for Life (reprise) 01'00"
Lai, Gimbel arr. Peter Knight
Archive Holdings:
No visual material from this edition is held by the BBC, and the programme is not known to survive in any form on film or videotape. The Fan Archive Collection preserves an ambient
off-air audio recording made privately at the time of the original broadcast (shelf mark
[2]160). In the absence of the full programme, this recording provides the only known record of the transmitted soundtrack.
All recordings remain under copyright, and we are unable to provide access or supply copies.
Survival Status:
This episode does not survive. No visual elements are known to exist within the BBC Archives or elsewhere. The only surviving material is an ambient
off-air audio recording made at the time of transmission, held within the Fan Archive Collection (shelf mark
[2]160), which preserves the available audio record of the broadcast.
SHOW
FOUR: The Sound of Petula: The Songs In My Life
For this fourth edition, Petula presents a personal retrospective built around songs that have shaped her career, from early chart successes to later international hits. Supported by Peter
Knight's arrangements, the Mike Sammes Singers and a 33-piece orchestra, she revisits key titles including
"I Know a Place," "The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener," "Couldn't Live Without Your
Love," and "Downtown." The programme also incorporates film material from Here Come the Huggetts and a sequence of novelty and early-career songs, offering a broad survey of her musical life to date.
BROADCAST
DETAILS:
PRODUCTION:
-
Telerecorded:
Wednesday 28 February 1973
-
Venue:
BBC Television
Theatre, Shepherd's Bush Green, London
-
Duration:
30'00"
-
Producer:
Yvonne Littlewood
-
Programme
Associate: Eric Merriman
TAKING
PART:
FILM
SEQUENCES:
MUSIC
PERFORMED:
-
Orchestra & Mike Sammes Singers
Opening Signature Tune: The Sound of Petula - 00'20"
Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark with Orchestra & Mike Sammes Singers
The Song of My Life - 01'25"
Jennot, Harvey, Fishman, Layani - arr. Peter Knight
-
I Know a Place
- 01'00"
Hatch - arr. Peter Knight
-
The Other
Man's Grass Is Always Greener - 01'10"
Hatch, Trent - arr. Peter Knight
-
I
Couldn't Live Without Your Love - 01'13"
Hatch, Trent - arr. Peter Knight
-
The Wedding Song
- 03'13"
Paul Stookey - arr. D. Costa
-
Petula Clark with Orchestra & Mike Sammes Singers
Romeo - 00'34"
Kennedy, Stolz - arr. Peter Knight
-
Adonis
- 00'26"
Warren, Goehring - arr. Peter Knight
-
Sailor
- 00'32"
Schargenberger, West - arr. Peter Knight
-
Baby Lover
- 00'26"
Merrell - arr. Peter Knight
-
Cinderella Jones
- 01'50"
Mould, Lordan - arr. Peter Knight
-
Where Did My Snowman Go?
- 00'20"
Venis, Poser - arr. Peter Knight
-
Little Blue Man
- 01'00"
Ebb, Klein - arr. Peter Knight
-
I Love a Violin
- 01'00"
Kay Thompson - arr. Peter Knight
-
I
Can't Remember - 03'23"
Bob Crewe - arr. Costa, Knight
-
Sweet Swiss Valley
01'57"
Petula Clark arr. J.C. Vannier
-
Petula Clark with Orchestra
You and I - 03'09"
Bricusse
-
Petula Clark with Orchestra & Mike Sammes Singers
Downtown - 01'31"
Hatch - arr. Hatch, Knight
-
This Is My Song
01'51"
Chaplin arr. Freeman, Knight
Archive Holdings:
No visual material from this edition is held by the BBC, and the programme is not known to survive in any form on film or videotape. The Fan Archive Collection preserves an ambient
off-air audio recording made privately at the time of the original broadcast (shelf mark
[2]160). In the absence of the full programme, this recording provides the only known record of the transmitted soundtrack.
All recordings remain under copyright, and we are unable to provide access or supply copies.
Survival Status:
This episode does not survive. No visual elements are known to exist within the BBC Archives or elsewhere. The only surviving material is an ambient
off-air audio recording made at the time of transmission, held within the Fan Archive Collection (shelf mark
[2]160), which preserves the available audio record of the broadcast.
Additional resource material:
The Fan Archive Collection holds one professionally shot production
still from this episode.
SHOW
FIVE: The Sound of Petula: The Best of Bacharach
This fifth edition takes a look at the music of American hit composer Burt Bacharach, presenting a full programme of his best-known songs. Petula is joined by special guests Anita Harris, Marion Montgomery and Barbara Windsor, with musical support from Peter Knight and the Orchestra and the Mike Sammes Singers. Together they perform a wide selection of Bacharach and David classics, from
"Close to You" and "Magic Moments" to "Walk On By," "A House Is Not a
Home," and "What the World Needs Now Is Love."
BROADCAST
DETAILS:
PRODUCTION:
-
Telerecorded:
Wednesday 14 March 1973
-
Venue:
BBC Television
Theatre, Shepherd's Bush Green, London
-
Duration:
29'25"
-
Producer:
Yvonne Littlewood
-
Programme
Associate: Eric Merriman
TAKING
PART:
FILM
SEQUENCES:
MUSIC
PERFORMED:
-
Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
Opening Signature Tune: The Sound of Petula - 00'15"
Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark & Orchestra
This Girl's in Love with You - 03'32"
Bacharach, David - arr. Colombier
-
Petula Clark & Orchestra
Wives and Lovers - 02'01"
Bacharach, David - arr. Fiddy
-
Wives and Lovers (Tag)
- 00'10"
-
Orchestra
Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head - 00'18"
Bacharach, David - arr. Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark, Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
Magic Moments - 02'00"
Bacharach, David - arr. Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark & Orchestra
The Look of Love - 01'50"
Bacharach, David - arr. Fiddy
-
Always Something There to Remind Me
- 00'47"
Bacharach, David - arr. Fiddy
-
Marion Montgomery & Orchestra
Make It Easy on Yourself - 01'21"
Bacharach, David - arr. Fiddy
-
Barbara Windsor & Orchestra
Anyone Who Had a Heart - 01'42"
Bacharach, David - arr. Fiddy
-
Petula Clark, Marion Montgomery, Anita Harris, Barbara Windsor & Orchestra
I'll Never Fall in Love Again - 01'55"
Bacharach, David - arr. Fiddy
-
Anita Harris & Orchestra
Walk On By - 01'35"
Bacharach, David - arr. Fiddy
-
Petula Clark, Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
Living Together, Growing Together - 02'43"
Bacharach, David - arr. Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark, Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
A House Is Not a Home - 03'00"
Bacharach, David - arr. Fiddy
-
What the World Needs Now Is Love
- 03'55"
Bacharach, David - arr. Peter Knight
Archive Holdings:
No visual material from this edition is held by the BBC, and the programme is not known to survive in any form on film or videotape. The Fan Archive Collection preserves an ambient
off-air audio recording made privately at the time of the original broadcast (shelf mark
[1]197). In the absence of the full programme, this recording provides the only known record of the transmitted soundtrack.
All recordings remain under copyright, and we are unable to provide access or supply copies.
Survival Status:
This episode does not survive. No visual elements are known to exist within the BBC Archives or elsewhere. The only surviving material is an ambient
off-air audio recording made at the time of transmission, held within the Fan Archive Collection (shelf mark
[1]197), which preserves the available audio record of the broadcast.
Additional resource material:
The Fan Archive Collection holds one professionally shot
production still from this episode.
SHOW
SIX: The Sound of Petula: Your Kind Of Music
The final edition of the 1973 series centres on songs requested by viewers, with Petula performing a wide-ranging selection drawn from contemporary pop, inspirational material and musical theatre. Supported by the Mike Sammes Singers and a 34-piece orchestra under Peter Knight, she moves from modern standards such as
"Make Your Own Kind of Music" and "Everything Is Beautiful" to stage favourites including
"Look to the Rainbow," "Old Devil Moon" and "I Don't Know How to Love
Him." Specially shot film inserts accompany the studio performances, bringing the series to a close with a varied set shaped directly by audience choice.
BROADCAST
DETAILS:
PRODUCTION:
-
Telerecorded:
Wednesday 21 March 1973
-
Venue:
BBC Television
Theatre, Shepherd's Bush Green, London
-
Duration:
30'11"
-
Producer:
Yvonne Littlewood
-
Programme
Associate: Eric Merriman
-
Musical
Associate: Art Day
-
Costume
Designer: Rupert Jarvis
-
Make-up:
Cynthia Goodwin
-
Graphics:
Dick Bailey
-
Sound:
Len Shorey
-
Lighting:
Ken MacGregor
-
Design:
Don Taylor
-
Facilities:
London Airport, Sykes Pumps
TAKING
PART:
FILM
SEQUENCES:
MUSIC
PERFORMED:
-
Mike Sammes Singers & Orchestra
Opening Signature Tune - The Sound of Petula - 00'17"
Peter Knight
-
Petula Clark & Orchestra
Make Your Own Kind of Music - 02'05"
Weill, Mann
-
Day by Day
- 00'53"
Tebelak, Schwartz
-
Put Your Hand in the Hand
- 01'12"
MacLellan
-
Everything Is Beautiful
- 01'23"
Ray Stevens
-
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
- 00'52"
Backer, Davis, Cook, Greenaway
-
Petula Clark & Orchestra
If - 02'52"
Gates
-
Look to the Rainbow
- 01'35"
Harburg, Lane
-
How Are Things in Glocca
Morra? - 01'23"
Harburg, Lane
-
Old Devil Moon
- 01'35"
Harburg, Lane
-
I
Don't Know How to Love Him - 04'00"
Lloyd Webber, Rice - arr. J. Harris
-
Soon
It's Gonna Rain - 00'48"
Burke, Van Heusen
-
Here's That Rainy Day
- 01'20"
Burke, Van Heusen
-
No
Regrets / Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien - 02'34"
Newell, Dumont, Vaucaire, Bennett, Watkins
-
I Believe In Music
- 04'43"
Davis
Archive Holdings:
A complete recording of this episode is held within the BBC Archives. The Fan Archive Collection also preserves a private reference copy (shelf mark
[1]140, [1]320, [1]341, [2]105 &
[2]135). All recordings remain under copyright, and we are unable to provide access or supply copies.
Survival Status:
This episode survives in full. The BBC holds the master recording, and the Fan Archive Collection maintains a documented reference copy. No missing segments, edits, or partial-survival issues are known. This is the only episode from this series that
survives in its entirety. This
is the only episode from the 1973 / 1974 series
of The Sound of Petula that the BBC has ever repeated. Notably,
it was shown as part of Petula Clark Night on
BBC Four in 2022, celebrating her 90th birthday.
Additional resource material:
The Fan Archive Collection holds sixteen professionally shot
production stills from this episode.
From
the RADIO TIMES, dated 19 April 1973:
Seven
weeks ago RADIO TIMES asked you to name the song you would most
like to hear Petula Clark sing in the final programme of her
series. Requests poured in, and on Saturday you can hear the
most asked for numbers. Deirdre Macdonald talked to three girls
who voted for the winning title and introduced them to Petula.
Pet
sings the girls' best song
Petula talks to the
Cousins sisters Judith, Jane and Jill about the winning song
they voted for. "It's a song I love performing."
JILL, JANE AND JUDITH Cousins
voted for Mary Magdalene's song from Jesus Christ Superstar to be included in the last Petula show of this series. The song,
'I Don't Know How To Love Him', came out top favourite by a landslide, requested by 3,000 people.
'I was really quite surprised, but very pleased,' Petula told the girls when Radio Times took them to meet her in Portsmouth where she was doing a one-woman concert before flying home to Geneva and then on to Las Vegas.
'It's the kind of song that you either like or you don't. It's a song that I love performing on stage - you can put such a lot into it. But it
wasn't a huge hit for me. It didn't do all that well in the
charts.'
'She's much smaller than I expected,' Jill whispered when she first caught sight of Petula.
'What if we get tongue-tied?'
They didn't.
Jill is 14, Jane is 12, Judith is eight. They like most pop, from David Cassidy to T. Rex. But sometimes they get a bit tired of group noises, all sounding the same.
'Petula sings songs as if they mean something,' Jill said.
They were given the record for Christmas, but the family's big old radiogram broke down.
'We thought this would be a good chance of hearing the song
again,' they told me.
'Do you like leaving your children behind?' Judith asked Petula.
'No, indeed I don't,' Petula answered. 'We try to arrange concerts and things as much as possible in their school holidays so that they can come with us. The girls were in Britain with us for a couple of weeks, and so was the baby,
Patrick.'
Jane wanted to know if Petula was an outdoor-type: 'Yes, I love being out in the fresh air, but all too often
I'm cooped up in a recording studio or a theatre,' she answered.
'But we're going to a place called Lake Tahoe in Nevada, soon, and there are horses and cowboys there. My younger
daughter's mad about horses.' Judith confessed that she was, too.
'You must learn to ride properly,' Petula said to her. 'It can be quite dangerous if you
don't know what you're doing.'
Jill asked whether Petula chooses her own clothes. 'Oh yes,' said Petula in mock horror at the idea of anyone else choosing for her. She asked the girls if they like clothes and got the answer
'yes.' 'My daughters just live in trousers. They've got a couple of dresses that they keep shoving to the back of the wardrobe because they
don't like wearing anything but jeans.'
The four of them went on talking for quite a long while, and then it was time for Petula to start her show. Jill, Jane and Judith quickly asked her for her autograph and went off to take their places in the auditorium.
Petula, very much a star in a glittering black and red slinky dress, swept on stage to welcome her audience with
'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me' and 'I'd Like to Make it with
You...'
Questions?
Drop
us an email: info@petula-archives.co.uk
